Related Articles

During spring, summer and fall, fairs and festivals are in full swing in Central Illinois. If you find yourself in the Land of Lincoln during this time, spend a day or two riding roller coasters, petting baby farm animals or sinking your teeth into fresh ears of sweet corn.

Illinois Shakespeare Festival

You don't have to be a drama queen to enjoy Bloomington's Illinois Shakespeare Festival (thefestival.org), which runs from June through August each year. Catch a play at the Theatre at Ewing Manor, partake in a behind-the-scenes theater tour, enjoy live jazz music and satisfy your sweet tooth at an ice cream social. Shows include Shakespeare classics such as "Romeo and Juliet," "Othello," "The Winter's Tale," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "As You Like It" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." As a special treat, have a picnic on the festival grounds before watching a performance.

Roger Ebert's Film Festival

Bond with other movie buffs at Roger Ebert's Film Festival (ebertfest.com), which takes place annually in April. The festival, in Champaign, is based in downtown's historic Virginia Theatre. In addition to viewing films picked by Roger Ebert, festival-goers can participate in discussions with the films' cast, crew and writers. You can purchase an all-inclusive screening pass or individual film tickets. The panel discussions are free and open to the public.

Typical Weather

Springfield, Illinois in

--°FHigh

--°FLow

--%

Chance of Rain

--%

Cloud Cover

The temperature in Springfield, Illinois in September tends to be very predictable, so you can generally count on the forecast and travel light.

The temperature in Springfield, Illinois in September is somewhat unpredictable, so be on the safe side and prepare for a variety of conditions.

The temperature in Springfield, Illinois in September is highly unpredictable, so use the forecast as a guide, but be ready for anything!

Sweet Corn Blues Festival

Although the Sweet Corn Blues Festival (normal.org/index.aspx?NID=568) is the locals' way to welcome back Illinois State University students each August, you don't have to be a resident to enjoy the annual celebration. The festival, which takes place in Normal, serves up over 50,000 ears of fresh sweet corn during the two-day event. Festival-goers can also enjoy local arts and crafts, a sidewalk sale and flea market vendors, not to mention live blues music.

International Route 66 Mother Road Festival

Route 66, also known as the "Mother Road," began in Illinois. To celebrate this honor, Springfield hosts the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival (route66fest.com) each September. Festival attendees have the chance to check out more than 1,000 classic cars as they roll down the streets of downtown Springfield. Take a step back in time as you enjoy live music from the '50s through the '70s and learn about the history of Route 66.

Illinois State Fair

The Illinois State Fair (agr.state.il.us), the United States' 13th largest state fair, is in Springfield each August. Bring your family and enjoy the carnival's classic midway rides, exotic animal shows, face painting booths, auto racing, and even an opportunity to milk a cow. The fair's "The Heartland" exhibit pays homage to Illinois' rich agricultural offerings through a farmer's market tent and daily cooking demonstrations. The "Illinois Wine Experience" is a chance to sample wine from local wineries and listen to live jazz, big-band and orchestral music nightly.

References

About the Author

Elizabeth Arnold has written for a wide variety of publications and websites. Her experience includes writing travel features for "Recommend" magazine and packaging marketing copy for both Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. consumer products. Recently, Arnold was a staff writer for "Special Events" magazine. Arnold studied English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.